Simmonds will try to heal from memories of season

VOORHEES, N.J. » Wayne Simmonds was about to go into an important meeting with management Wednesday, and he only had 10 minutes or so to explain what he was about to tell his Flyers bosses.

“From the beginning of training camp I think I had a torn pelvis,” Simmonds said. “I thought I would be able to play through it, and do a decently good job. I didn’t play up to my expectations. It was a very frustrating year and things didn’t go the way I wanted.

“But if I can play I’m going to play. I think I could’ve probably taken some time to (heal), but I would’ve been out for probably a month and a half.”

So while still dealing with the pelvis pain as the regular season began, Simmonds overcompensated for his injury and pulled a groin on Oct. 17. He didn’t miss time. Two nights later, while the Flyers were playing Nashville, he was minding his own business on the bench and was accidentally slammed in the face by Mattias Ekholm’s stick. That took two root canals and eventually six lost teeth, but that was partially because his upper jaw had been shoved back when a Scott Hartnell shot hit him full force there years before.

Anyway, still missing no time but hurting from grin to groin, Simmonds took a Shayne Gostisbehere shot off his ankle. No big deal. “It kind of just broke,” he said. “Obviously it wasn’t weight bearing on the bone so you’re still able to play with that.”

Oh.